Adjustable operating rod for a hydrant

ABSTRACT

An adjustable operating rod assembly is provided. In one embodiment a telescoping rod and tube are provided such that the length of the operating rod can be selectively adjusted in order to accommodate fluid inlet pipes of various lengths and regardless of manufacturer.

This application is a Continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityfrom U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/373,132, filed Dec. 8, 2016 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,885,426, which is a Continuation of and claimsthe benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/869,679, filed Sep. 29, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,546,741,which is a Continuation of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/490,133, filed Sep. 18, 2014 and issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,212,471, which is a Continuation of and claims thebenefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/428,120,filed Mar. 23, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,558 on Sep. 30,2014, which claims the benefit priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/467,790, filed Mar. 25, 2011, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to wallhydrants for selectively delivering fluid. The wall hydrant of oneembodiment employs an inlet valve that is actuated with an operating rodof adjustable length.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wall hydrants are commonly used for supplying water and generallyinclude a housing with a handle rotatably interconnected thereto. A borein the housing provides a fluid path from a fluid inlet pipe to a fluidoutlet of the housing. The handle is turned to control fluid flow bymoving an operating rod located within the fluid inlet pipe in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet pipe. Anend of the operating rod opposite the handle is associated with an inletvalve that opens and closes the hydrant.

To replace the operating rod and/or interconnected inlet valve, aplumber must know the length of the inlet pipe, length of the housing,and location of the fluid source interconnection point, the latter twocomponents being located on either side of a wall. Because wallthicknesses vary from structure to structure, estimation of inlet pipelength, etc. is difficult. Thus, during initial hydrant installation orreplacement, inlet tubes and associated operating rods must sometimes bemodified and customized. Further, as replacement valve components may beof different length than those found in an existing hydrant, theoperating rod must sometimes be adjusted to accommodate a valve or valvecomponent length increase or decrease. Unfortunately, operating rodspresently in use do not have capability to accommodate varying sizes offluid inlet pipes or inlet valves, and the operating rod must bemodified by the installers which can be expensive. Alternatively,installers must stock and/or transport operating rods of varyinglengths.

It is a long felt need to provide an operating rod that is selectivelyadjustable and easily adapted to accommodate hydrants of various sizes,lengths, and manufactures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is one aspect to provide an adjustable hydrant operatingrod that is able to accommodate hydrant assemblies of various lengths.The present invention contemplates an adjustable operating rod that canbe installed within a variety of preexisting hydrant assembliesregardless of size or manufacture. Of course, as will be recognized byone of skill in the art, adjustable rods of the present invention arenot limited to a particular adjustable length or range. Indeed, a widevariety of lengths and increments of adjustment are contemplated by thepresent invention. The adjustable operating rod can be used in hydrantsmade by most, if not all, companies.

In one embodiment, an adjustable operating rod having a first end and asecond end is provided. The first end is associated with a handle formanually activating valves of the hydrant assembly. The first end may beassociated with a drain valve and interconnected stem screw of afreeze-resistant hydrant as disclosed in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 20100206392, which is incorporated by reference herein.The second end is associated with an inlet valve that selectively opensand closes to control fluid flow. The operating rod is comprised of anouter, generally hollow, tube positioned about an inner rod. The innerrod and outer tube are capable of moving relative to each other alongthe longitudinal axis thereof. In one embodiment, the inner rod and theouter tube may have respective apertures that are aligned to accept apin or similar device that secures the inner rod to the outer tube. Inone embodiment, one end of the inner rod is associated with the inletvalve. The proximal end of the operating rod is comprised of an openingin the outer tube that receives an adapter for interconnection to thehydrant handle. One of skill in the art will appreciate that thecomponent members of the adjustable rod may be interconnected in anyorder and that more than two members may be provided that may beinterconnected in any order. Further, it is contemplated that a kit canbe provided that has component members of various sizes that can bemixed and matched as needed.

In one particular embodiment, the outer tube is provided with aplurality of spaced apertures that receive a removable pin forconnecting the outer tube to the inner rod. A rod end for associationwith the hydrant handle is soldered, or otherwise interconnected, to atleast one of the inner rod or the outer tube. The inner rod has at leastone aperture for aligning with one of the plurality of apertures in theouter tube. The inner rod may also have a hexagonal outer profile at oneend and is connected to the inlet valve. In one embodiment, a solderjoint is provided to hold the outer tube and inner rod together.

Although a pin has been described as securing the outer tube to theinner rod, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that thepresent invention is not limited to a particular pin, pin arrangement,or even a particular number of pins. Indeed, cotter pins, e-clips,c-clips, screws, bolts, devises, and various temporary interconnectingdevices are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.Further, the members comprising the adjustable operating rod may beconnected in a uni-directional manner wherein adjacent members can beslidingly interconnection but thereafter not able to move relative toeach other in an opposite direction. The contemplated pin is easy toinstall and remove. In addition, the pin is of such size to fit insidethe housing and a fluid inlet tube that is interconnected to thehousing. Pins and similar devices may be disposed through only a portionof the rod and/or tube (e.g. one wall), or may extend through the entirediameter of the rod and/or tube.

In alternative embodiments, the adjustable operating rod is comprised oftelescoping components. The telescoping components may be selectivelyinterconnected by a spring-loaded ball or similar device that preventsrelative movement of one component relative to the other component. Onlyupon pressing the ball to overcome the spring force will the ball moveout of engagement and allow the locked components to collapse or expandrelative to each other. In such embodiments, this locking mechanismreplaces or supplements the removable pin described above. One of skillin the art will recognize that such biased elements should be ofsufficient strength to accommodate torque or bending loads applied tothe operating rod as well as resist corrosion.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the operating rodcomprises two members that are threadably connected which allows theoperating rod to selectively lengthen or shorten. In this embodiment,the desired operating rod length may be fixed by using one or morelocknuts or interlocking serrated plates that prevent undesiredlengthening or shortening of the operating rod. In such embodiments, thelength of the operating rod is fixed in a non-discrete manner.

It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to providean adjustable operating rod with indicia associated with the length. Forexample, where the predetermined apertures and corresponding operatingrod lengths equate to 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12 inch final workinglengths, such lengths may be etched or engraved on to the inner rodand/or the outer tube. In addition to, or in lieu of, such engravings,color coding indicia may be provided where different colors correspondto different lengths, or sub lengths. Additionally, external hydrantelements, such as the housing or the end of the operating rod, may sharethe contemplated engraved or color-coding scheme to facilitateidentification of operating rod length and installation. For example,pre-installed elements may comprise a color-coded feature indicatingthat a 10 inch operating rod is required and a 10 inch operating rodbearing the same color may quickly and easily be selected forinstallation.

Various additional methods are contemplated for adjusting and fixing thelength of the operating rod. For example, the inlet valve may beinterconnected to the inner rod having an outer spline that isinterconnected to a corresponding spline on an inner surface of thevalve. These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosureof the invention(s) contained herein. The above-described embodiments,objectives, and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. Aswill be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possibleusing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forthabove or described in detail below. Further, the summary of theinvention is neither intended nor should it be construed as beingrepresentative of the full extent and scope of the present invention.The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in thesummary of the invention, as well as, in the attached drawings and thedetailed description of the invention and no limitation as to the scopeof the present invention is intended to either the inclusion ornon-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this summary of theinvention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become morereadily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when takentogether with the drawings.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a fluiddelivery hydrant, comprising: a fluid housing; a fluid inlet pipe havinga first end interconnected to the fluid housing; an inlet valveassociated with a second end of the fluid inlet pipe; an operating rodpositioned within the fluid inlet pipe, the operating rod beingassociated on one end with a means for controlling fluid flow throughthe fluid inlet pipe, the length of the operating rod being adjustableand further comprised of: an inner rod having a first end and a secondend; an outer tube having a first end and a second end, the inner tubehaving an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the outer rodand at least a portion of the length of the inner rod being disposedwithin at least a portion of the length of the outer tube; a pluralityof apertures comprising at least one aperture provided in the outer tubeand at least one aperture provided in the inner rod; and a preferablyrigid pin for optionally inserting into the plurality of apertures tosecure the inner rod and the outer tube at a desired length.

It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to provide afluid delivery hydrant, comprising: a fluid housing; a fluid inlet pipehaving a first end interconnected to the housing; a means forcontrolling fluid flow associated with a second end of the fluid inletpipe; and an operating rod positioned within the fluid inlet pipe, theoperating rod being associated on one end, the length of the operatingrod being adjustable.

The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it beconstrued as being representative of the full extent and scope of thepresent disclosure. The present disclosure is set forth in variouslevels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in theattached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and nolimitation as to the scope of the present disclosure is intended byeither the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. inthis Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the presentdisclosure will become more readily apparent from the DetailedDescription, particularly when taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the general description of the disclosure given above andthe detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explainthe principles of the disclosures.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a typical hydrant assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a hydrant assembly with anadjustable operating rod according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the adjustable operating rod shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable operating rod of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded elevation view of the operating rod of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the operating rod of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present inventionshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention similar to that of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is another embodiment of the present invention similar to thatshown in FIG. 7.

To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the presentinvention the following list of components and associated numberingfound in the drawings is provided herein:

# Components 2 Hydrant assembly 6 Housing 10 Handle 14 Fluid inlet pipe22 Inlet fitting 26 Operating rod 30 Plunger 34 Inlet valve 36 Outlet 40Vent 44 Adjustable operating rod 48 Inner rod 52 Outer tube 56 Aperture60 Pin 64 First end 68 Hexagonal outer surface 76 Second end 80 Adapter100 Hydrant Assembly 104 First Member 108 Second Member 112 Third Member114 First end 116 Second end 118 First end 120 Second end 122 First end124 Second end 126 First Portion 128 Second Portion 134 Inlet Valve 156Aperture 160 Pin

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.In certain instances, details that are not necessary for anunderstanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficultto perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course,that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particularembodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a hydrant assembly 2 of the prior art that generally includesa housing 6 that is interconnected to a fluid inlet pipe 14. A handle 10is also operatively associated with the housing 6. The fluid inlet pipe14 is also interconnected to an inlet fitting 22 that is associated withthe fluid source of a building. The fluid inlet pipe 14 includes anoperating rod 26 that is associated with the handle 10 that isinterconnected to a plunger 30 that selectively moves into and out ofthe inlet fitting 22 to form an inlet valve 34. As used herein “plunger”refers to any device or member that selectively moves to control theflow of fluid through the fluid inlet pipe 6. Rotation of the handle 10moves the operating rod 26 and thus moves the plunger 30 into or out ofthe inlet fitting 22 to begin or cease the flow of fluid through thefluid inlet pipe 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, an adjustable operating rod 44 according tovarious embodiments of the present invention is shown. Generally,operating rods 44 are provided in standard sizes, for example, 8 inch,10 inch and 12 inch lengths. Obvious problems arise when, for example, aplumber attempts to install an 8 inch operating rod or a 12 inchoperating rod into a system requiring a 10 inch operating rod. By nothaving the proper length operating rod on hand, time and complicationsrelated to the repair procedure are increased. The adjustable operatingrod 44 includes an inner rod 48 fitted within a concentric outer tube 52When not interconnected, the rod 48 and the tube 52 are translatablewith respect to one another in a telescoping manner. In a preferredembodiment, the outer tube 52 is provided with a plurality of holes orapertures 56 for aligning with corresponding apertures of the rod 48 andfor further receiving a pin 60 to secure the rod 48 and tube 52 at adesired length. The location of the apertures 56 in the tube 52 incombination with the position of one or more apertures on the rod 48,correspond to final working lengths of the secured assembly (e.g. 8inch, 10 inch, 12 inch, etc.). Accordingly, embodiments of the presentinvention are suitable for use with a variety of hydrant assemblies andmay be quickly adjusted in the field to be compatible with a variety ofexisting systems.

In one embodiment, a first end 64 of the rod 48 comprises a hexagonalouter surface 68 for receiving a tool. The hexagonal outer surface 68 isprovided as a fail-safe element, such that if the tube 52 were to becomedisconnected from the inner rod 48, the inner rod 48 would not bestranded within the tube. The hexagonal outer surface may be accessed,loosened, and/or removed by various tools. One of skill in the art willrecognize that any number of similar tool-receiving features may beprovided to assist in the removal of the inner rod 48 in thesesituations.

Although FIGS. 2-6 depict a pin 60 according to one embodiment, it willbe expressly understood that the present invention is not limited to aparticular pin, pin arrangement, or even a particular number of pins.Indeed, cotter pins, e-clips, c-clips, screws, devises, and varioussimilar devices are within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention. Pins of the present invention are contemplated as beinggenerally easy to install and remove, fit inside the hydrant and areadapted to survive the life of the product.

FIG. 5 provides a cross-sectional view of the adjustable operating rod44 according to one embodiment of the present invention. To provide thedesired length, the inner rod 48 is slidingly engaged within the outertube 52. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the rod, i.e., themember that interconnects to the inlet valve 34, may be hollow and thetube, i.e., the component that interconnects to the handle, may be solidwithout departing from the scope of the invention. Further, both the rod48 and the tube may be completely or partially hollow. The outer surfaceof the inner rod 48 and the inner surface of the outer tube 52 mayinclude a key and a key way, corresponding splines, or other engagingfeatures that rotationally fix the inner rod 48 to the outer tube 52.The inner rod 48 and the outer tube 52 may be connected at least in partby mating spline features, such as one or more male features that matewith one more female features.

The inner rod comprises a plurality of apertures 56 for receiving a pin60. Although the figures depict the apertures 56 arranged linearly, someembodiments of the present invention comprise an outer tube 52 and/orinner rod 48 with a series of radially disposed apertures, such that theouter tube 52 and inner rod 48 may be secured at various rotationalorientations. While various embodiments contemplate an inner rod 48having a plurality of apertures corresponding to a plurality ofapertures provided on the outer tube 52, it will be expressly recognizedthat the inner rod 48 and outer tube 52 need not have complementaryapertures. For example, one embodiment contemplates the inner rod 48having a single aperture which may be aligned with any one of aplurality of radially disposed apertures in the outer tube 52 or viceversa. In another embodiment, it is contemplated that the outer tube 52and inner rod 48 each comprise a pair of apertures that align orcorrespond to one another, thereby enabling a pin or connector to bedisposed through the entire diameter of the outer tube 52.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate another method of rendering an operating rod 100adjustable. More specifically, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, the operating rod 100 includes three components—a firstmember 104, a second member 108, and a third member 112—which are fixedrelative to each other with a pin 160 that is inserted through apertures156 similar to that described above. One of skill in the art willappreciate that more than three components interconnected in any numberof ways as discussed herein, or generally known in the art, can beemployed to provide the contemplated adjustability.

In this embodiment, the first member 104 is interconnected to the secondmember 108, which is further interconnected to a third member 112. Thefirst component includes a first end 114 and a second end 116. The firstend 114 is adapted to receive a handle or a key, which controls themovement of the operating rod 100. The second end 116 is opened andreceives a first end 118 of the second member 108. One of skill in theart will appreciate that the second end 116 may be inserted or otherwiseinterconnected to the first end 118 of the second member 108 withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The second member furtherincludes a second end 120, which is opened for receiving a first end 122of the third member 112. The second end 124 of the third member 112 isassociated with an inlet valve 134. In this embodiment, the first ends114, 118, and 122 of the components may be adapted to receive a key or ahandle. In addition, the second member 108 comprises a first portion 126and a second portion 128, wherein the first portion 126 has a diameterthat is less than the diameter of the second portion 128. In operation,the smaller diameter first portion is inserted into the open, second end116 of the first member. Again, one of skill in the art will appreciatethat the first end 116 of the first member 104 may be inserted orotherwise interconnected to the second member 108.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a second way of assembling the control rod 100of this embodiment is shown. Here, the first member is omitted and thesecond portion is interconnected to the third member 112. The secondmember 108 and the third member 112 are interconnected by way of a pin160 that is inserted through apertures 156 in the respective members.One of skill in the art will appreciate that other interconnectedmechanisms are contemplated. This assembly shows that the elongatedassembly of FIGS. 7 and 8 can be shortened as needed.

FIG. 10 shows yet another way of interconnecting the members. Here, thefirst member 104 is interconnected to the third member 112. Again, a pin160 is used, which is placed within apertures 156 of adjacent members,to interconnect the first member to the third member. This configurationalso illustrates how a multi-membered operating rod 100 allows the enduser to selectively alter operating rod length to accommodate fluidinlet pipes of various lengths.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedin detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of thoseembodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to beexpressly understood that such modifications and alterations are withinthe scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in thefollowing claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein are capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out invarious ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseologyand terminology used herein is for the purposes of description andshould not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,”“comprising,” or “adding” and variations thereof herein are meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as wellas, additional items.

What is claimed is:
 1. An operating rod for a hydrant assembly, theoperating rod comprising: a handle end comprising an outer surfaceconfigured to receive a tool for manipulation of the operating rod; anopposite valve end comprising at least a portion of an inlet valve; andtwo or more members selectively connectable to one another to define anoverall length of the operating rod, wherein at least one of the two ormore members comprises the handle end and only one of the two or moremembers comprises the valve end, and wherein when the two or moremembers are connected to one another, rotation induced into theoperating rod at the handle end is transferred to the valve end.
 2. Theoperating rod of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more memberscomprise a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein the firstend of each of the two or more members comprises the outer surface, andthe second end of one or more of the two or more members comprises anopening configured to receive the first end.
 3. The operating rod ofclaim 2, wherein the first end comprises a first diameter and the secondend comprises a second diameter, the first diameter less than the seconddiameter.
 4. The operating rod of claim 1, further comprising a pin,wherein each of the two or more members comprise a first end, anopposite second end, and one or more apertures defined therein, andwherein when the first end of one of the two or more members isconnected to the second end of another of the two or more members,corresponding apertures align for receipt of the pin.
 5. The operatingrod of claim 4, wherein when the pin is received within the one or moreapertures, a first portion of the pin extends through the one or moreapertures and through a diameter of the first end and the second end,and a second portion of the pin extends around an outer circumferentialportion of the second end.
 6. The operating rod of claim 1, furthercomprising a handle configured to couple to the handle end.
 7. Theoperating rod of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve comprises a plungerand an inlet fitting, and wherein the valve end comprises the plunger.8. The operating rod of claim 1, wherein the overall length isadjustable.
 9. The operating rod of claim 1, wherein the overall lengthcomprises at least one of 8 inches, 10 inches, and 12 inches.
 10. Anadjustable operating rod kit comprising: an inlet valve; a first membercomprising a first end and an opposite second end, the second endcomprising the inlet valve; a second member comprising a third end andan opposite fourth end; and a third member comprising a fifth end and anopposite sixth end, wherein the first member, the second member, and thethird member are selectively connectable to one another forming anoperating rod for use with a hydrant assembly, and wherein the firstend, the third end, and the fifth end each comprise an outer surfaceconfigured to receive a tool for manipulation of the operating rod. 11.The kit of claim 10, wherein the fourth end and the sixth end eachcomprise an opening configured to receive one of the first end, thethird end, or the fifth end.
 12. The kit of claim 10, further comprisingone or more pins, wherein the first member further comprises an aperturedefined proximate the first end, the aperture configured to receive theone or more pins and secure one of the fourth end or the sixth end tothe first member.
 13. The kit of claim 10, further comprising one ormore pins, wherein the second member further comprises: a first aperturedefined proximate the third end, the first aperture configured toreceive the one or more pins and secure the sixth end to the secondmember; a second aperture defined proximate the fourth end, the secondaperture configured to receive the one or more pins and secure one ofthe first end or the fifth end to the second member; and a thirdaperture defined between the first aperture and the second aperture, thethird aperture configured to receive the one or more pins and secure oneof the first end or the fifth end to the second member.
 14. The kit ofclaim 10, further comprising one or more pins, wherein the third memberfurther comprises: a first aperture defined proximate the sixth end, thefirst aperture configured to receive the one or more pins and secure oneof the first end or the third end to the third member; and a secondaperture defined between the first aperture and the fifth end, thesecond aperture configured to receive the one or more pins and secureone of the first end or the third end to the third member.
 15. The kitof claim 10, further comprising a fourth member, the fourth membercomprising a tube positionable around at least a portion of the firstmember proximate the inlet valve.
 16. The kit of claim 10, furthercomprising a substantially round handle selectively connectable to oneof the first end, the third end, and the fifth end.
 17. The kit of claim10, wherein the first member, the second member, and the third membereach comprise a different length.
 18. The kit of claim 17, wherein thesecond member and the third member each comprise indicia associated withthe length.
 19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the indicia comprises colorcoded indicia.